Adjustable tongue for motorless vehicles



vJan. 15, 1952 Q C, LLEVEKE 2,582,595

ADJUSTABLE TNGUE FOR MOTORLESS VEHICLES Afzem l ,Jy

www( www@ Jan. 15, 1952 C, LEVEKE `2,582,595

I ADJUSTABLE TONYGUE FOR MOTORLESS VEHICLES A Filed OGr..A 31, 1949 I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 @fg/10ML@ r i'vnmusmnLEH-TUNGUE-FoRfMorroRnE ss l lmaintiens@ l .clisrxiliveke nesminealilwa :Applica-emmener;s1, issisfseiarfm.:124;657

inventionmelates'toactongue forca-{motorlessJ-vehicle land :.:more tpartcnilarly;.tito l:such `sa 'tongue futhat is .fcapableiA of ladjustablefmovement when :being sez'zurerli-"tov acprimezfrnovera suchzlfasra tractor, truck or like. l

y fAllizmotorless -vehicles;such asiztrailers, wagons, or Sthe like Ythat-:mustLbemovedi:byvavprirnermover are provided with some-emeans'cfor; irietachably securing I the same lthereto. :A substantial portion of' such means'iconsist'of. atongueithat nan be-secured tto. a hitch :onthe prime mover. v:.z'Ihis is y usually accomplishedtbybackingiup:the prime :mover fsuch ias :a struck, automobile;` tractor or @the 'like to la' pointawhere the Ltcmgueraanbe secured the fhitch. `With A:small :lightweight trailers ithis: is: not :tool` much i of al :etaskf 'because if the.. truck. is not backed uplexactlytothetrri'ght spot, the light ltrailer f can libefmanhandled .'rsu'fciently to set thevendlfofthe tongue in theshitch.

However, inafgreat numberfof casestheiftraileris far .toorheavy 'for such :maneuvering'iiand iif Vthe truckis Inot moved'r-to thefcorrectsposition the. rst time, itimustbamovedfand maneuvered again until thelfend 'of the 'I tongue-f f-allsexactly into :place `in .the hitch. 'Usually thelendiftongue when Y not v secured in .the fhi-tchwill #be resting Yon the groundfso that in.' additionto'fal driver for the 1 prime mover,.r another personiis i: needed Ito :hold ithe: `tongue in a-positioni-higher than the hitch. Otten it requires v repeated 1 maneuvering of 1 the truck'. to lback i into-just Lth'eright lspotl for this* hook-up ydue 'to the" factthat theztongueis attached to 1 rthefwheel runner fof l' the ltrailerv and yit .istithere'fore practically impossiblewmalage sate for any vf slight error 'in backing hef-truck.

.This can, andfrequently does,consume allot-f fvaluable vvtime vand effort respecially@wlierrfitlre :prime mover itself large-and bulk-y;-

Itis Afthereforeari-object of'm-yinventionto Y. A furthera-object` of Athislinvention i'sftolpro'vide a ftrailer itonguerof lthe fabove'rcla'ss fl that ihas La plurality of adjustable meanszto-aocomplishfthe -purpose set out above but @which When-secured `:to a primefmover provides aisturdmrigitliand -feicient tongue. f*

A stillfurther .'bjectof1this':invention isttoprovide xa trailer Ltonguel tha-vingiga-fpluralityfof ,frnanually operable iadjustable fmeans I toy expedite and facilitate its attachmentl to 1the-hitchoma '1 prime mover and ":Whlichlmeansl will-'automatically lock f the'. tongue rigidlyffini place when "tiret-liook- Aup is completed-and jarpulling"forcehas Een - exerted by the-prime moven l atelgimsl-K (o1. 28a-+3344) '2' vprovideran adjustable tongue.- for trailers-.or the .likexthat 'requires only one-person forhooking it to a prime rmovenand'that ,does'fnot Itqllle thepusefofeany toolsntherefor.

y vrA.fs'tillfurther object. of v:this invention is-to provide :fa: trailer-:tongue of thea-above lclasses 1that P-is f economical :in imanufacture,=efcient ,use and durablel in ,construction Y These-zandarfother. objects will be i'apparentzto thosefskilled/in the art.

:My :invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of 'the various parts -of :the device,.whereby Ithe objects contemfplated kare attained 1as hereinafter more fully setzfforth pointed 1 out L in *my y claims, ,1, and ;ill us ktrateidcin the; accompanying drawings, ainpiwhich:

Fig. is: as top view :of :this device-(shown .fatf tached gto :the frame of earitrailer''or. thei like r with st'hevdo'tted lines indicating i the lateral movement fthereofi n i Fig.:2;isfazsidezview of '-vthise'device rtakenfson ithellinefl cfaFi'gr1,With'ithei respective-dotted lines showing diierent positionsiaoftthe respective fpartszthereto',v

Fig. '31`is afiperspective View Lfmy'tOnguesat- :tached to the :frame Iofiaptrailer orethel'ikeand rreadyforiuse, Y

Referring to'. the idrawingsl :have fused the Anumeral l0 :to designate=thexfzfronthend 1.0i rthe :frameafor :a ftmotorlessfe vehicle suchfias 'fa ztrailer, :wagon or the like'. Y Ifhave lmadefmytongueiframe friompa lengthLof-anglelironiwhiclfi` is :bentzatiits centerzinto.substaritiallyvfa Uf'shape havingthe respective'ilengtn.portions -H and zlzswhich-fextendarearwardlyy horizontally fand slightly away from Reach otherto the v'bend cpointsIS. From therbendpointsill thelengthsill and tZJeXtend 'ldownwardly', :rearwardly 1f forwardly .and .I slightly avvayfrenr.eachlotherito therbend;points l4 and thence rearwardly, horizontally. and slightlyfaway `fromwseach father i to ttheA respective endsxnthereof Ywhich arent securedtto the frame :.'Iffasfl-shownlin ,FigtllL Transversely arrangedzwithinfthe tongue frame is the bar brace l'5 Which-has-its respective L:ends securedto the length lportions l I'fand I2 respectively: atta pointljust Lto'- therear o'f the'bend pointslt Thusfarrang'ed, the #front U portion of the tongue frame that-is forward ofthe bend points "I'3 and I4 is ataxhigher'elevation that the .lengths I'I land` IZ'Which are tothe rear of thesebend pontsjand `vby thisconstruction I the bottom. of the U portion' is VsubstantiallyY on'the samevhorizontal' plane as `tl'ietop of the brace [5to provide', for,4 the tongue member Whichpwill'laterbe describe-d in detail. A

`ing holes 32.

housing I6 I provide the elongated horizontalr slots I9. Forwardly from the point 20 on the bQtj tom of the housing I6 the bottom thereof is open.,

and forwardly from the point 2I thereon,` a portion of each side of the housing I6 is also open to form the reduced forward housing portion 22, as shown in Fig. 2. Secured to the forward end of the reduced housing portion 22 is a bar bracket 23 which engages the top and sides thereof with its free'ends extending in spaced relation downtion thereof rests on and is slidable on the horizontal section of the angle iron U portion of the tongue frame, as shown in Fig. 1. The numeral '25 designates two spaced apart elongated bar catch members, each pivotally secured at one end to and adjacent the inside vertical section of the tongue frame U portion and arranged so that the free end of each catch is capable of engaging one side of the stop bar 24 at times, as shown in Fig. 5.

`Each of the catches 25 is provided with the finger tip grip members 4 I.

The numeral 26 designates an elongated tongue member which I have formed from a length of pipe. While I show a reduced forward portion 21 in the drawings the portions 26 and.21 can be made from one piece of material Without affecting the use ofthis device. VThe numeral 28 designates an adjustable detachable elongated tongue portion that is provided with a plurality of spaced apart holes 29 arranged in line along the longitudinal axis thereof, as shown in Fig. 1. This portion 28 is made to telescope into the tongue portion 21 and is adjustable as to length by inserting the pin 30 into any desired hole 29.` Secured to the free end of the tongue portion 28 and extending forwardly therefrom are two parallel bar members 3I arranged in vertical spaced relation and each provided with the correspond- Near the rear of the tongue member 26 there is transversely arranged and secured therein a rod member which projects outwardly from each side of the tongue 26 to form the lug tips 33. The entire tongue assembly just described is arranged in the housing I6 so that one of the lugs 33 slid-ably rests in one of the slots I9, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

The numeral 34 designates two elongated catch release barvmembers respectively pivotally secured at their rear end to one side respectively of the housingV I6 at a point justlr rearwardly of the slots I9 and joined together at their forward end bythe elevated hand grip bar 35. The bottom edge of each of the catch release bars is provided With the shoulder 36 .as shown in Fig. 2.

The numeral 31 designates a shaft member pivotallyv secured to the free ends of the bracket 23 and having a lever handle member 38 secured to 4 nates a cradle member secured to said shaft 31 between the free ends of the. bracket23, Vas shown f Thus constructed and arranged, lthis tongue will operate in the following manner:

The tongue frame is normally secured to the trailer or the like at a standard height from the 1 ground. This tongue 26 will remain in this ele- Weighted knob end 39. Thenumeral 40 desig- ,vated position without requiring a person to hold it because of my novel arrangement to-wit: The lugs 33 on the rear of the tongue 26 are resting in the slots I9 of the housing I6 and any tendency of the front end of the tongue to drop downwardly is prevented bythe inside of the top of the housing I6 which 4will permit only a slight upwardly movement of the rear end of the tongue 26 to allow a limited vertical movement of the tongue,-as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Such a vertical movement, however, is controllable by the cradle 40 and when the cradle is positioned as shown in Fig. 4 with the lever handle 38 in its downwardly vertical position, the tongue 26 will be resting on and supported by this cradle and the tongue will be incapable of any vertical movement. With the tongue thus sustained in an elevated rposition the operator of the prime mover can back his truck or the like so that the hitch on the truck and the end of the tongue are as close togetheras he can gauge Yfrom the drivers compartment. When this has been accomplished the driver can thencomplete the hook-up himself because of the adjustable features of my invention. A slight vertical adjustment of the tongue is made possible by manually pulling the lever handle 38 to its upwardly position, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 5. This movement of the handle 38 will cause the cradle 40 to move forwardly and downwardly since the cradle legs are securedto the shaft 31 which turns with the Vhandle 38. The removal of the cradle Y4l! from beneath ythe tongue 26 will provide whatever vertical adjustment of thev tongue that will normally be required. The adjustment as to length can be-made in two different Ways: First, any small ,variation in the length of the ltongue can be obtained by Ymanually raising the catch releases 3'4 by means of the cross bar 35.4 Normally the be obtained by adjusting the tongue end 28 in one of the holes 29. Since 4the tongue before it is hooked up is not subject to any stresses or strains, all these adjustments can easily and quickly be manually made by one person without the need for any tools.

AAvlateral adjustment for the tongue is accomplished by raising each of the catches 25 by means of the fingertip grip means 4I. These .catches must be raised enough so that no lateral obstruction remains in the way of the stop rod 24 and when this is done the tongue can manuallybe moved laterally to right or left as desired because the tongue is arranged in the housing I6 and the housing is pivotally secured vtothe brace I5 by means of the bracket I1 and pin I8. As the tongueis laterally moved, the stop rod 24 will riderover the horizontal portion Yof the angle iron U portion of the tongue frame.

Thus, by using one or more or all of the adjustable features of this device this tongue can easily and quickly be hooked to a prime move1` with a great deal of time saved over the procedure now generally in use. Once the tongue is hooked to the prime mover a slight forward movement of the truck will pull on the tongue and as this happens the lugs 33 will move to their forward position in the slots I9 and the releases 34 will drop by gravity into place so that the shoulders 36 engage the lugs 33 and prevent any rearwardly movement thereof. The catches 25 will likewise drop by gravity into place so that the independent lateral movement of the tongue 26 and housing I6 is not permitted.

The cradle 40 will also automatically return to its normal position of supporting the tongue 26 and this is accomplished as follows: As described above the handle 38 is provided with a weighted knob handle 39. up and the tongue is resting in its downwardly position, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, the handle is past its dead center point and consequently will stay up. However, as the tongue is raised to the horizontal and hooked into the I prime mover hitch, the dead center position of the handle 38 is changed and the handle by its own weight will drop downwardly, thus returning the cradle to the position shown in Fig. 4.

The cradle 40 is arranged so that it will have sufficient clearance between itself and the bottom of the tongue 26 to permit it to freely swing into place as the handle falls by gravity.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my adjustable tongue for a motorless vehicle without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and itis my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably ineluded within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a frame member comprising a substantially U-shaped bar member, a brace member transversely arranged within and secured to the respective side portions of said U bar member, a rectangular housing member pivotally secured at one end to said brace member; said housing provided with an open bottom portion, a tongue member pivotally secured at one end within said housing member; said tongue member capable of lateral movement and also capable of vertical movement, a means to restrict the lateral movement of said tongue, a means to restrict the vertical ff..

movement of said tongue, a means for adjusting said tongue member as to length and a hitch means secured to the free end of said tongue member.

2. In a device of the class described, a frame member, a housing member pivotally secured at one end to said frame member, an elongated tongue member adjustable as to length at one end and pivotally secured at its other end within said housing member; said tongue member capable of lateral movement and also capable of vertical movement, a means to restrict the lateral movement of said tongue, a manually operable cradle means to restrict the vertical movement When the handle is Gil of said tongue, a means for adjusting said tongue 7o U-shaped bar frame member, a brace member transversely arranged within and secured to the respective side portions of said U-bar member, an elongated rectangular housing member horizontally arranged and pivotally secured at one end to said brace member; said housing provided with an open bottom portion and also provided with a slot on each respective side thereof, an elongated tongue member adjustable as to length on one end, a lug member transversely secured to and laterally projecting from each respective Vside of the other end of said tongue member; said tongue member detachably secured within said housing member so that each of said lug members slidably rests in one of said slots, a catch release member pivotally mounted on said housing and capable of engaging said lugs to prevent any rearwardly movement thereof and capable of being disengaged from said lugs to permit a rearwardly or forwardly movement of said lugs, a stop rod member secured to the top of said housing member and slidably resting' on said frame member, a catch member arranged on said frame member capable 0f engaging said stop rod member, a cradle member mounted on the underside of said housing member and capable of supporting said tongue member and a hitch means secured to the free end of said tongue member.

4. In a support cradle for the tongue of a vehicle, a bracket member spaced apart at its bottom and designed to be secured at its top to a supporting member; said bracket member embracing said tongue, a shaft member rotatably transversely arranged in the bottom portion of said bracket member,l a handle member secured to said shaft member, a cradle member secured to said shaft member and capable of supporting said tongue; said cradle member movable with said shaft member so that rotation of said handle member secured to said shaft member will move said cradle member into or out of its supporting position for said tongue l'and said cradle member when not supporting said tongue capable of automatically returning to said supporting position.

5. In a device of the class described, a frame member, a housing member pivotally secured at one end to said frame member, an elongated tongue member adjustable as to length at one end and slidably pivotally arranged at its other end within said housing member, means to restrict the slidable movement of said elongated tongue member within said housing member; saidtongue member capable of lateral movement and also capable of vertical movement, a means to restrict the lateral movement of said tongue, a manually operable cradle means to restrict the vertical movement of said tongue, a means for adjusting said tongue member as to length and a hitch means secured to the free end of said tongue member.

CHES'I'ER I. LEVEKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,570,737 Furler Jan. 26, 1926 1,574,351 Altgelt Feb. 23, 1926 1,838,865 Paul Dec. 29, 1931 2,357,540 Palmer Sept. 5, 1944 

